The M2 50 caliber machinegun

[Glenn Saunders]

A WWII U.S. infantry division had 236 of these in its TOE, and an infantry regiment 35.

I have a book - US ARMY Infantry Division 1943-45

It lists everything right down to 1 set of hair clippers per 24 men and how many watches for COmpany HQ - and while one would have to go though it org by org and tally the numbers - something I have not done I admit - but I don't see the numbers you are quoting in this book.

Let me see if I can do a quick count from the book.

I see one per Rifle company - with Weapons platoon. I guess that is 9 so far.

At Btln there is 2 more per Btln. One with Ammunition and Pioneer Platoon and another with Anti Tank Platoon. That is 6 more and I am up to 15.

Cannon Company and Anti Tank Company at the Regt level adds another 6 - 1 per platoon, 3 platoons per Company and I am up to 21. I could be missing a few but I don't think I am skipping 15.

3x that for three Regt per Div. Yes - I can find some 50 cals at Div level too - and some 30 cals as well but I don't see 236 per Div.

Also -I am not sure really how many units would be at 100% TO&E of everything. The same book calls for 5 french horns per Div too.:)

Anyway I'm sure folks would be interested in seeing your breakdown. I know WIg Graves went to great detail in the N44 OOB to figure out everything. And I know if later games we dropped off a lot of support units because many of us - myself included found the N44 OOB too detailed to be playable at anything like the larger Scns.

I think Bulge made an effort to take out some of the detail and make the game playable but last I heard most people thought the GErmans had an impossible task ahead so up gunning the US UInf won't do much for game play.

In any case I would be interested in seeing you 50 cal breakdown for the Division and then see if I can find the guns in my book because it has EVERYTHING - compasses, stoves, tents, you name it. The Entire TO&E.

Glenn